NJ's 25th District Assembly Race 2019 Still Too Close To Call

BOONTON, NJ — All districts are reporting New Jersey’s 25th legislative district, but the race between the Republican ticket of State Senator Anthony M. Bucco and Denville Councilman Brian Bergen and Democrat ticket Lisa Bhimani and Darcy Draeger remains too close to call.

Bucco and Bergen have a slight lead in the unofficial results. As of 11:50 p.m., 169 out of 169 districts in Morris County are reporting, and the single Somerset County district reporting:

• Bucco 26,848
• Bergen 25,552
• Bhimani 23,505
• Draeger 22,850

Although all districts are reporting results, the race remains too close to call. Unofficial vote totals do not include provisional or mail-in ballots; no candidate has issued a concession statement as of 11:51 p.m. A spokesperson for Bhimani and Draeger did not respond to Patch's request for comment.

Should Bhimani and Draeger win, it will be the first time a Democrat has ever been elected to represent New Jersey’s 25th District in the Assembly since the district was created in 1974.

It would also be the first time two women have represented the district together. Republican Jane Burgio represented the district between 1974 and 1981, alongside Thomas Kean at first, and then Frederic Remington.

Should Bucco and Bergen be elected, things will be slightly more complicated. Bucco was the incumbent candidate until mid-October, when he vacated his assembly seat to be appointed to his late father’s former Senate seat following the elder Bucco's death. If Bucco wins, the Morris County Republican Committee will appoint someone to hold his seat until a special election can be held in November 2020.

Should Bucco lose, a special appointment will only hold the seat until January 20, when one of the Democrats are sworn in.